Misconception about Pliny the Elder's empirical approach?
Some might perceive my cataloging of phenomena as lacking a unifying theory or a distinct psychological framework. However, this is a misunderstanding of my intent. I did not seek to impose a single, abstract theory upon the vastness of existence. Instead, I believed that by meticulously documenting the empirical evidence – the sensory experiences, the observable actions, the recorded histories of human endeavors – a true understanding of the world and its inhabitants would emerge organically. My 'theory' was the comprehensive collection itself.
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